Stories from Monday, June 23, 2003

CAMBRIDGE -- The West All-Stars defeated the East All-Stars 109-80 in the 19th annual Cambridge C.S.O. All-Star basketball game. The West trailed the East at half 45-43 and were down by double digits at some points in the ball game before lighting up and running away in the third quarter...

Shelly Garcia and Bill Longnecker, both of McCook, were united in marriage May 24, 2003, at the Church of Nazarene with Randy Longnecker, brother of the bridegroom, of Woodland Park, Colo., officiating. Parents of the couple are Bob and Dorothy Staab of Plainville, Kan., Phil and Beverly Rhea of McCook and the late Bob Longnecker...

Bethany Schudde of St. George, Utah and Travis Johnson of Hoisington, Kan., announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Carl and Sylvia Schudde of St. George, Douglas and Terri Johnson of Dodge City, Kan., and Tina Johnson of Hoisington. ...

Jamie Naeve of Norfolk, formerly of Cambridge, and Brent Christensen of Arapahoe announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are James and Linda Naeve of Norfolk, formerly of Cambridge, and Mel and Ruth Christensen of Arapahoe. ...

Whitney Anne Cross and Jonathan Michael Mires, both of Richmond, Ind., announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Ronald Cross of Richmond, Linda Cross Owens of Phoenix, Ariz., and Burton and MaryJane Mires of McCook. The bride-to-be is a 1997 graduate of Richmond High School in Richmond and earned her bachelor's degree in Spanish education at Taylor University in Upland, Ind., in 2001. ...

The children of Evert and Doris Mosher are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th anniversary July 3. Children of the couple are Danny Mosher of McCook, Gloria and Darold (Dee) Foxworthy of Parker, Colo., and Ed and Edie Mosher of Cheyenne, Wyo. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at HC30 Box 102, McCook, NE 69001...

Dave and Danyle Lytle announce the birth of a son, Nathan David, born Friday (June 20, 2003). He weighed 9 pounds, 14 ounces. He has one sister, Julia who is 2. Grandparents are Glen and Julia Lytle of McCook.

One of McCook's favorite leisure time activities over the years has been dancing. On the Fourth of July, 1882, when McCook had been incorporated as a town for only two months, Grand Balls were held at H.C. Rider's store building and at the Russell & Colvin Hotel to wrap up a full day of festivities in the town. It was not reported who provided the music for these events...

Scams are everywhere. I get offers for practically everything in my mailbox everyday and on my computer as well. When they come via e-mail, it's called spam; unsolicited e-mails usually trying to sell us something we don't need or want and doesn't work if we did. ...

For drivers and pedestrians, the concrete "bulbs" on B Street in McCook are something new and different. The circular curb extensions are taking shape on both sides of B Street's three main intersections: West First Street, Norris Avenue and East First Street, as well as the south side of the B Street and West Second Street corner...

Dear Editor, Red Willow County has a definite problem with musk thistles and it is evident the Red Willow County weed department is doing nothing about it. All one has to do is drive about 6 to 10 miles south of the west river bridge and you can see the world's supply of musk thistles...

Yes, the Republican River lawsuit has been settled, and, surprisingly, Nebraska didn't have to pay any damages to Kansas. But, in the past few days, irrigators on the Nebraska side of the line have discovered that there's more to the story ... and that, in dry years, the settlement could have a significant impact on water use in the Republican River Valley...

TRENTON -- Dale E. Nowka, 79, died Friday (June 20, 2003) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. He was born July 22, 1923, in Culbertson, to Albert and Alice (Rousselle) Nowka. He grew up at Culbertson and graduated from Culbertson High School. He began farming north of Culbertson...

Sherman E. Gillett, 74, died Friday (June 20, 2003) at the Florence Home in Omaha. He was born May 13, 1929, at home in Havelock, to Wendell and Emma (Zaspel) Gillett. The family moved to rural Sioux County, where he attended three different rural schools. ...

HOLDREGE -- Elsie L. Lockhart, 92, died Saturday (June 21, 2003) at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. She was born Nov. 27, 1910, near Arapahoe, to Frank and Gertie (Cavanaugh) Brecks. She attended elementary school at rural Snowball School near Arapahoe and attended high school in Arapahoe...

HONOLULU -- Megumi Arakawa and Joseph Hamrick Jr., were united in marriage Nov. 1, 2002, at the Michels Chapel in Honolulu, Hawaii with the Rev. Crais Cain officiating. Parents of the couple are Masae and Isae Arakawa of Tochigi, Japan and Joseph and Cheryl Hamrick of McCook...

Lyndsi Renee (Reynolds) Smith and John Christopher Smith confirmed their wedding vows in a candlelit ceremony March 8, 2003, at McCook Assembly of God Church. Offering prayers were Stan Reynolds, grandfather of the bride, and Rev. Charles Hooton, pastor of the McCook First Assembly of God Church. The couple was married in a military setting Dec. 30, 2002, in Oklahoma...

The children of Bette Jo Tompkins are hosting an open house in honor of her 80th birthday, Sunday, June 29, at the Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook from 2-4 p.m. Cards of congratulations will reach her at RR 1 Box 182, McCook, NE 69001.

CAMBRIDGE -- In the 19th annual Cambridge C.S.O. All-Star basketball game the East team defeated the West 91-56. Christina Houghtelling of Cambridge was named MVP for the winning squad. On her way to capturing the MVP title, Houghtelling set a new scoring record for the C.S.O. with 32 points in the contest...

CLAY CENTER, Kan. -- The McCook Rebels 16 and under fastpitch softball team competed against Kansas teams Saturday and Sunday at the Clay Center Tournament. The Rebels posted a 3-2-1 record and placed fifth overall. "We had a lot of good competition this weekend and gained some good experience on defense with girls playing different positions," said coach Earl Roberts...

The McCook National Bank Seniors split a doubleheader with the Grand Island Chiefs Sunday afternoon at the Jaycees Sports Complex in McCook. In the first contest, the Chiefs downed MNB 9-5. McCook won the second game 10-0. Derick Lorentz was the starting pitcher in the opener for MNB...

Jim Burton, owner of JB Well Service of McCook and Mike Carr owner of Mica Energy of Oklahoma City (formerly of McCook) take a few practice strokes before teeing off for the annual Oilfield Classic at Heritage Hills Golf Course Saturday. Results were not available at press time...

LINCOLN -- McCook High School golfers Tyler Lawson and Brandon Crick were named to the Nebraska Coaches Association All-State Boys Golf Team for 2003. Lawson and Crick finished as the first- and second-place medalists at the Class B state championship in May and helped the Bison win the state team title...

Tyler Bieck: When did you begin to play baseball? Quinton Pohl: I started as soon as I could. My parents signed me up for T-Ball. TB: What positions do you play? QP: Left fielder and pitcher. My awesome arm and speed helps the team out a lot. TB: What is your favorite movie?...

LINCOLN -- Former Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost has signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. Frost, a free agent safety who worked out with the team last week, signed a contract Monday. The 6-3, 218-pound Frost was originally selected by the Jets in the third round of the 1998 draft where he was converted to safety. He spent his first three NFL seasons in New York before being waived and claimed by the Cleveland Browns where he appeared in 12 games...

FREDONIA, Kan. -- Harlan Gilbert, 76, died Thursday (June 19, 2003) at the Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita, Kan. He was born Oct. 1, 1926, in Rexford, Kan., to William Ira and Eva Lucinda (Keefer) Gilbert. He served for 21 1/2 years as a major in the U.S. Navy and Army National Guard. He retired in 1987 after 38 years as a resident engineer for the Kansas Department of Transportation State Highway Department...

NORTH PLATTE -- Budget strategies for the next two years are among the topics the Mid-Plains Community College board of governors will address at its meeting this week. The board's regular monthly meeting is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Technical Campus board room, 1101 Halligan Drive in North Platte...

Mick Barth of Oberlin ropes a steer during team roping Friday evening at the Kiplinger Arena on the fairgrounds in McCook. Barth was among 40-or-so ropers who roped steers provided by the Lapp ranch at Hayes Center.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1652 and Ladies Auxiliary plans a celebration to honor those who served during the war in Iraq and their families. A barbecue will be served Sunday from 5-8 p.m., to veterans of any war and their families, especially women and children whose husbands and fathers are away in the military. Entertainment will be provided by The Country Drifters...

It is normal to be self-centered when times get tough for whatever reason, whether because of grief, poor health, concern about making-ends-meet, drought, guilt about the past, or conflict with your partner. But at times such as these, it is essential to look around you and take stock of how your family and friends are faring, reports Dr. Kathy Bosch, Extension Family Life Specialist. Are the people you care most about doing OK?...

Red Willow County District Judge John Battershell conducted a telephone conference in his chambers Friday to hear arguments on a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that contests the Republican Valley/Twin Valley school merger and the issuance of bonds to build a new junior/senior high building...

A box turtle chugs across a county road northeast of McCook. Some of those crossings may have been even slower than normal, because the reptiles are unaccustomed to mud.

The city of Grant Economic Development Committee is "going out for business." Nine months after town monies began being appropriated for economic development, the committee is taking a proactive stand toward development in not only looking at program applicants, but identifying needed areas of development and advertising for people willing to take up those projects with local financial help...

Last Saturday, I arrived in Clyde, Ohio ... home of George W. Norris. I had envisioned a nice little town, much like Maywood ... what I found was Maytag. Still a very nice little town, but one in which 3,000 people are employed to make Maytag washers and dryers. The next day Clyde High School graduated 160 students...